The Rwandan vice-president, Paul Kagame, says the authorities must increase their efforts to resolve the security problems in the country.

Speaking at a news conference, Major-General Kagame -- who is also defence minister -- said there was no need to panic and that the Tutsi-led army was trying to curb the recent spate of attacks in northwest Rwanda.

He blamed the raids on Hutu militiamen who he said were determined to continue the genocide of 1994 Asked about reports that the army had killed civilians, General Kagame expressed exasperation, saying such suggestions were unhelpful and undermined military efforts to deal with the security situation.